If all goes to plan, contractors could be on-site at the Otago Settlers Museum to build its new storage building by the end of the month.
The gravel which has been piled at the rear of the site since January is slowly disappearing, in preparation for building.
Settlers development manager Bronwyn Simes said the gravel was put there to "pre-load" or condense the land, which was reclaimed and had been used as a rubbish dump in Dunedin's early days.
Condensing the land that way meant it did not disturb the site or the foundations of the nearby Burnside Building, she said. The only disruption would be trenches dug for services, and an archaeologist would be on hand during that work.
The gravel would provide the base for the new building, which was a climate-controlled, two-level "smart" warehouse, she said.
Construction could take about a year.
